Justin Mestin of Tess, Alberta, won the Cinch Bucking Horse Championships at Majestic Valley Arena Saturday night with a 153-point total for two rides.

He had the second-best go in the first section, scoring 82 points on Starburst, and came back with a 71, the third-best mark, in the second round on Michaelangelo.

What made his performance remarkable was that he came into the championships holding down the 22nd spot in the standings after 12 events. Only the top 22 cowboys qualified for this bucking horse event, which was billed as the richest one in the world. Cowboys and contractors were competing for $70,000 in prize money.

Zeke Thurston of Big Valley, Alberta, and JC DeSaveur of Roberts tied for second with 152 totals.

LeRoy Eash of Fortine was fourth at 145.

Those were the only cowboys to post two scores.

Eash, who came into the championships on top of the Cinch standings, turned in a 69 in the second round on Hobby Horse and 76 in the first session on Renegade.

“Wish I could have scored a little better,” Eash said on Hobby Horse.

Despite the fourth-place showing, Eash says he’s enjoying a banner year on multiple circuits.

He’s currently fourth in the Northern Rodeo Association saddle bronc standings and 10th in the PRCA Montana Circuit.

The NRA finals are next weekend at the Butte Civic Center.

“This has been a good year for me,” he said.

“I’m just riding better ... things are going better. I’m riding with more confidence.”

He’s also changed his outlook a bit.

“In the past I went to compete and have fun,” he said. “Now I go to a rodeo to win money.”

This marked the third year Majestic Valley Arena hosted the championships.

Cinch Bucking Horse Championships

Saturday

At Majestic Valley Arena

Cowboys

Overall

1. Justin Mestin, Tees, Alberta, 153 points; 2. (tie) Zeke Thurston, Big Valley, Alberta, and JC DeSaveur, Roberts, 152 each; 4. LeRoy Eash, Fortine, 145; 5. Blaze Hamaker, Centennial, Wyo., 78; 6. Kendall Green, Cohagen, 72.

Second Round

1. DeSaveur, 76; 2. Green, 72; 3. Mestin, 71; 4. (tie) Zeke Thurston and Eash, 69 each; 6. Ty Mankie, Hermosa, S.D., 67.

First Round

1. Zeke Thurston, 83; 2. Mestin, 82; 3. Hamaker, 78; 4. (tie) Eash and DeSaveur, 76 each; 6. Wyatt Thurston, Big Valley, Alberta, 67.

Contractors/Horse/Score

1. (tie) Danny Jacobson, Starburst, and Kling Rodeo, Joyride, 88 points each; 3. (tie) Fettig Rodeo, Spiderwoman, and JS Rodeo/Laura Malcher, Cat Scratch, 87 each; 5. (tie) Rod Hay/Jeff Mackay, Gordie, and Doug McLeod, Crazy Horse, 85 each; 7. Doug McLeod, Morse Code, 84; 8. Jess Martin, Renegade, 83.